LGBTQIA+ characters (Lesbian Book Bingo #12)

While Lesbian Book Bingo is named after the category that booksellers like Amazon sort most of the women-loving-women books into, it’s really a reading challenge for and about all women who are attracted to women.

Since June is pride month, I want this month’s focus to be on the often neglected, ignored, or erased sexual orientations and identities within the LGBTQIA+ community.

So for this square, please read a book with at least one female main character who is bisexual, pansexual, asexual, aromantic, trans, intersex, queer, or identifies in some other way that is not straight or lesbian and cis.

If you’re not sure what some of these terms mean, this might be a great time to read up on it. Queer Pack offers an explanation of queer terms here, but there are many other sources of information out there too.

15 GREAT BOOKS WITH LGBTQIA+ main characters

I’ve put together a list of 15 books with LGBTQIA+ main characters that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Out on Good Behavior (Radleigh University, book 3) by Dahlia Adler

Pansexual main character

Frankie Bellisario knows she can get anyone she sets her sights on, though Samara Kazarian, the daughter of a southern Republican mayor, just might be pushing it. But when it turns out her attraction is reciprocated, they’ll both need to lay down some ground rules to protect their hearts.

Rahel Sayana is desperate to escape the life her parents have planned for her. She runs away to the dangerous port city of Whitesun and becomes an outcaste: a person of no caste and few rights. A planetary threat pulls her into the biggest battle in Alsean history, then into a treacherous game of power. The loss of both her honor and caste sends her reeling, but Rahel has always made her own fate. She gambles everything on one final chance. Will giving up her hopes lead to the highest honor of all?

Streetwise cyborg Lexi Vale brokers deals for gang lords in the anarchic city of Foundation. Her mind-reading implant gives her a crucial edge—but it also makes her brain a hot commodity.When she’s targeted by an augmented hunter, Lexi joins a group of rebels: a murderous vigilante, a daredevil smuggler, a drug-addled surgeon, and a revolutionary whose shared past with Lexi endangers them all.

Small-batch independent yarn dyer Clara Ziegler is eager to brainstorm new color combinations—if only she could come up with ideas she likes as much as last time! When she sees Danielle Solomon’s paintings of Florida wildlife by chance at a neighborhood gallery, she finds her source of inspiration. Outspoken, passionate, and complicated, Danielle herself soon proves even more captivating than her artwork.

Pop star Leontyne Blake is over love and women falling for her image. When she heads home to be near her sick father, she meets small-town nurse Holly, an asexual woman who has no interest in dating, sex, or Leo’s fame. Can their tentative friendship develop into something more despite their diverse expectations?

Natalie has made a promise: a vow of celibacy, signed and witnessed by her best friend. After a string of sexual conquests, she is determined to figure out why the intense romantic connections she’s spent her life chasing have left her emotionally high and dry. As Natalie sifts through her past and her present, she confronts her complicated feelings about her plus-sized figure, her bisexuality, and her thwarted career in fashion design.

Unlikely circumstances land Evie—tourist, ace, non-dancer—in a dance competition just in time for Toronto Pride. Her friends think this is great, but she’s not so convinced, especially when she meets her dance partner. Tyler—local, trans, dancer—is a guy who’s stuck in a rut and knows it. The competition, and Evie, aren’t what he wants, but might be exactly what he needs in order to move forward.

Aozora Kaede has run away from home. She’s forced to become a wanderer, with a spirit wolf as her only companion. Homura Imari, daughter of a daimyo, needs a favor. Someone must guide her to a faraway mountain and a magical blacksmith who can repair her missing left hand. Together, they must travel across the treacherous Jade Sea, protect themselves from Kaede’s vengeful family, and perhaps even save the Empire from destruction.

Etta is tired of dealing with all of the labels that seem so important to everyone else in her small Nebraska hometown. Everywhere she turns, someone feels she’s too fringe for the fringe. Not gay enough for the Dykes, her ex-clique; not tiny and white enough for ballet, her first passion; not sick enough to look anorexic (partially thanks to recovery). Etta doesn’t fit anywhere—until she meets Bianca, the straight, white, Christian, and seriously sick girl in Etta’s therapy group.

Derby offers recently divorced Tina an outlet for her frustrations, a chance to excel, and the female friendships she’s never had before. And as Tina starts to thrive at derby, the tension between her and Coach Joanne “Joe” Delario cranks up. Despite their player/coach relationship, they give in to their mutual attraction. Sex in secret is hot, but Tina can’t help wanting more.

Lena Newman is 17, her best friend’s a cheerleader, her boyfriend’s a football player, and as far as everyone is concerned, her life is sorted. But that’s before she befriends the new girl. Juliet is confident, slightly damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and a lesbian.Lena realizes that her interest goes beyond just friendship. She sets off on a path of self-discovery where the loyalty of those closest to her will be tested.

Zilrita was at the top of her game, managing the most successful record label in Europe, London Harmony. There was nothing that could derail the squid hugging goth woman, except the smile of the woman she secretly longed for, their receptionist, Jennifer.After an emergency calls her back to Denver after being away for thirteen years, Zilrita is forced to re-examine her life and face some truths she has hidden herself away from.

Abigail is content with her quiet life as a librarian. But when she’s invited to a high-profile charity auction, she finds herself dancing with one of the most beautiful women she’s ever met, supermodel Gabrielle Levesque. Gabrielle has a reputation as the Ice Queen, except she warms up whenever she’s with Abby. But Abby isn’t interested in the heat between them; she’s asexual, and she’s worried that admitting as much to Gabrielle might spell the end of their blooming romance.

If you haven’t done so already, download your bingo card, pick the book you want to read for the LGBTQIA+ characters square, and start reading! Remember that you can either read one of the 15 books listed above or pick another book that fits the category.

Anyone can enter. To be entered into the drawing, leave a comment on this blog and let us know which book you’re going to read for the LGBTQIA+ characters square or if you can think of another book that fits this category.

Entries close on Thursday, June 14, 2018, 10 a.m. CET, when I’ll draw the winners using a random numbers generator. I’ll notify winners via email. Your email address won’t be used for any other purpose.

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So many great choices. I’ll definitely have to read Roller Girl at some point. My wife did Roller Derby for a few years so that book definitely appeals to me. I really want to read Being Emily too. And Perfect Rhythm is on my list as well. Too many choices. That’s a good thing though

I read the sequel to “Being Emily” for this square on my 2nd bingo card. It’s called “Just Girls” and it’s about a Trans woman who is a freshman in college and living in the women’s dorm. I didn’t read the first book so it’s definitely a stand alone and I quite enjoyed it. I read “No One’s Sidekick” (I think) for my first card. The lead character is bi and there’s a secondary character that’s trans.

This is a great list! I never read books other than lesbian. I enjoy author Rae D. Magdon, so I read “Tengoku”. This book was handled so gently and lovingly, it opened my eyes to a whole world of different genders, and the struggles they face. My eyes have really been opened. I am now going to read “Perfect Rhythm”.

I read Silent Bob for this square, it has two bi characters who fall in love and it takes place in my home state of Washington, I also want to read perfect rhythm as well. Too many choices to choose from.

Thank you so much for including books with asexual characters! As an asxual myself, I’ve definitely been searching for some good books with asexual representation. Definitelyre-read nothing Thaw and Perfect Rhythm!

The book cover for “Roller Girl” by Vanessa North is hella amazing. Wasn’t alive during the heyday of Roller Derby, but my cousins and I were about that roller rink life (roller skating and then rollerblading) just about every weekend in the summer when we were kids. So, yeah, gonna read “Roller Girl.”

Just finished Perfect Rhythm by Jae. Damn you Jae!! Please keep writing ;) Butttt.. I need three more! So I guess I will start with Just Jorie, because I love the writing of Robin Alexander and keep on looking for more! That’s part of the fun. I still find new amazing authors!

There are several on this list that I’m interested in reading, and a couple I’ve already read. Throwing a couple titles out there, Reintegration, Tengoku, Being Emily, and Thaw are all in my tbr list. I’ve read Perfect Rhythm, Squid Hugs, and Just Jorie already this year.

I read Sweet Boy and Wild One by T L Hayes. Next I’m rereading Jae’s excellent Perfect Rythm. Also plan to read The Performance by Ellys Phox – a well written tangled murder mystery with a hell of a plot twist at the end. Also considering Finding Your Feet, Roller Girl and Being Emily. Good list as always Jae.

I had thought about it, but unless the author says so on her author’s bio, I have no way of knowing. I do know that “Knit One, Girl Two” by Shira Glassman, “Thaw” by Elyse Springer, and “Vow of Celibacy” by Erin Judge are #ownvoices.

I got to admit the only one I’ve read of this list is perfect rhythm and it is an excellent book, but I’m interested in some of the list like Tengoku by Rae D. Magdon, this one looks so much like a Japanese manga that has me intrigued

I just discovered Lesbian Book Bingo today and I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am!! I’ve always struggled to find great lesbian books in different genres, so this is incredible! Obviously I’m a bit behind, but luckily I just read 2 phenomenal books (series) that fit this category! If anyone is interested, the first book is Seers Stone by Holly Evans. The main character is bi. The characters in all of Holly’s books are somewhere in the LGBTQIA+ community.

I loved Perfect Rhythm, but when I realized (after the sample) that Holly is asexual, I felt a little challenged. Then I realized that the book was pushing me, ever so gently out of my comfort zone to help me see (beautifully) another aspect of our community. So, I intend, now, to read Just Juliet, Tengoku, Not Otherwise Specified, Knit One Girl Two, and maybe Roller Girl. Books like these take us into the shoes of other women, expand our empathy, and enrich us in ways that sometimes takes months to realize. I’m currently reading Melissa Brayden’s excellent, Sparks Like Ours. One of the main characters, Elle, is realizing she’s lesbian, but fears her lack of prior interest in sex might mean she is “broken.” My response, because of Perfect Rhythm, was, ‘wait a minute, not broken, maybe she’s just Ace.’ Thank you Jae, Connie

Perfect Rhythm will be my choice for this square. But I realise that I have read very little about women in the LGBTQIA category. So I am really looking forward to Perfect Rhythm. What I love most about your books, Jae, is that you try to find a subject beyond the expected. And you have always a lot of knowledge about your subject. Must be your eagerness to learn. Keep up the very good work!